Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “clericalism” come from?

Clericalism derives from English clerical plus the suffix -ism, from Ancient Greek -ισμός, Latin -alis, Ancient Greek κληρικός meaning of the clergy, from κλῆρος meaning lot or inheritance.

clericalism (English): political or secular power invested in members of...

Definitions

  1. political or secular power invested in members of...

Ancestry of “clericalism”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchcléricalismeclericalism
2Frenchcléricalclerical
3Latinclēricālis—
4Latinclēricus—
5Ancient Greekκληρικόςof or pertaining to clergy; clerical; clergyman
6Ancient Greek-ικόςof or pertaining to, in the manner of; -ic
7Ancient Greek-κόςforms adjectives with the sense of 'of or...
8Proto-Indo-European-ḱos-y, -ic
Every word from Proto-Indo-European -ḱos →